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  Darnel leaned over the wizard. “Let me guess, you’ve lost your powers? So now you want to what…? End your misery? You cowardly fool!”

  Fajer covered his face with his grubby hands. “I have nothing more than what I was born with. Everything I’ve worked hard for, all the powers I’ve infused… all of my magic is gone. At best, all I can do now is make a fire at the snap of my fingers.”

  Darnel moved away from the pathetic man and went to sit on the bottom stoop of the caravan. This was what he’d been waiting for. A chance to have the upper hand over Fajer. But what good would it do him now? After their failure in Goia, returning to the Brethren’s fortress risked them suffering even more severe consequences.

  He was right back where he was when he first met the wizard. A wandering outsider that nobody wanted anything to do with. Anwynn said they were the only family any of them had and that they needed to stick together. She probably also realized that if Fajer didn’t recuperate, she’d be left adrift, as well.

  “You’re right, Fajer. I’ve traveled with you all this time to gain what I could, then I planned to leave. Now it’s not so simple. Without you, I’m an outcast again. So is Anwynn. Where else are we to go?”

  Fajer slowly rolled over to his side and pushed himself into a sitting position. “Let me drink the potion. Burn my remains. Then the caravan and everything in it is yours. I don’t really care where you go. I’ve failed and now there’s no way I can regain all I’ve lost because of that…that…”

  “I tried to warn you not to demand her hands. Not when she was willing to sacrifice them to save her family.”

  Fajer took a look around their surroundings. “Where’s the elf?”

  “I sent her out to hunt knowing you and I needed to work out a few matters.”

  The wizard stood and shook the dirt from his coat. “Very well. I bequeath all I own to you. Take all this and be on your way. All I ask—”

  “Forget it, Fajer. I’m not going to let you drink that poison.” He also stood. “Matter-of-fact, let’s take care of that right now.” Before Fajer could stop him, he rushed inside the caravan, locking the door behind him. In the dim light, he tried to gather all the jars that could be used for harm, along with the pot of remaining potion and took it back outside.

  Fajer followed him, demanding Darnel to stop and give his belongings back.

  “I don’t have to. You just gave it all to me.” He smashed the jars on the ground and poured out the pot’s contents until every last drop was gone. Snapping his fingers, he sent a bolt of consuming fire onto the pile, igniting it. Then he turned and motioned for the key Fajer had thrown at him. It flew through the air into his waiting hand.

  “You think that'll stop me?” Fajer stared at the flames. “I can find—”

  “But you won’t. Not after you hear me out.” Darnel watched as the blue enchanted flames turned the broken glass into a black stone. “I certainly can let you die, but then all I’d be left with is an old wagon, a couple of stubborn ponies. And worst of all, that petulant elf. You had a plan before all this happened. We are a day away from the destination you set us on—”

  “What’s the point, Grunt?”

  Darnel was at his side, grasping Fajer’s coat in his fist. “What have I told you about calling me that? You—”

  “Who cares now?” Fajer tried to push him away but didn’t even have the strength for that. “All that is gone now. Even if we do find this Koloman fellow, it’ll make no difference if I can’t bend him to my will.”

  “I can, Fajer. I still have my powers and you must still have some. You said you have what you were born with, at least.” Darnel released the wizard. “We’ll find a way to refuel the extra powers you once had.”

  For a long moment, Fajer stared at Darnel, his violet eyes glimmering to the point Darnel feared the man might tear up. Blinking a couple of times, the wizard finally said, “My plan had been to capture the regent’s former adviser and find out any information we could to use against the new ruler. I’ve been devising a plan to overthrow the Province of Rodonal. But we’d need the help of the Brethren. Which means, I need to have my powers in place, or they’ll cast me into the pit to work the mines along with the trolls and other poor unfortunates they’ve enslaved.

  “You and Anwynn would be in danger of the same sentence for being associated with me. That’s why I sought to end my life. I don’t care to suffer the consequences of losing Goia that I know will come if I return home.”

  Overthrow Rodonal? Darnel’s pulse raced, blood and greed surging through his veins. To gain power over one of the provinces would be a terrible blow to the Light King. And if they gained power over one, Darnel could begin challenging the other provinces.

  “Is it truly possible to take over Rondonal?” he asked slowly releasing the wizard’s coat.

  “It was. But first, we have to find a way to get rid of the regent. Not kill him, or there will be another appointed in his place. We need to lure him away from his duties. Or somehow gain control of his mind.”

  Fajer began to pace. “If there is nobody left to rule the land, it’ll be up for grabs. All we need to do is find a way to wheedle our way into the court. I had a couple of ideas, but I wanted to drain the adviser for information first.”

  Darnel stepped back and also began pacing in the other direction. His thoughts ran rampant and he needed to rein them in, along with his hunger for power. He had to keep a clear head about this. “I can get whatever information you need from Koloman.”

  Fajer offered a feeble smile. “I counted on that. But you are still missing an important—”

  “No, I’m not dismissing your lack of power. We can get it back, can’t we? If we locate someone who’s gifted with strong talents, perhaps another Illuminate, or Warrior?”

  “The Illuminates are best for what we do,” Fajer answered. “But the stripping ceremony…I cannot return to Mire Wood.”

  “You don’t have to, Fajer. We only need an isolated spot, someplace where the boundary is weakest. Like in the Mire Woods. Perhaps we can head south, near the ancient forest, where the Brethren won’t sense us. Then you, I, and Anwynn will call forth the—”

  Fajer gasped, his eyes rounding into near circles. “Do you realize what you are saying? What you are contemplating is insane! It’s—”

  “Completely doable. I read the book you gave me, Fajer. And I even found a few others they thought they’d hidden.”

  The wizard shook his bald head. “When?”

  “During the winter months, while we stayed at the compound. My Curian blood led me right to the books I desired. I read them all and know exactly how to summon one of those pit demons.”

  Fajer stumbled backward, fear etched on every line covering his face. “You’ve lost your—”

  “I’m part Curian and part Logorian, it will obey me. My Logorian blood will enable me to command and control it.”

  Once the blue flames burned out, leaving the death potion nothing more than a black spot on the earth, Darnel returned to the wagon. “I’m not going to let you get out of this, Fajer. We made a deal to stick together and I’m holding you to it. I need your knowledge and you need my powers. We can still make this work.”

  The possibility of finally gaining a small advantage on Aloblase fueled Darnel’s drive and consumed any fears of facing a being of the underworld. They’d been banished ages ago by the Prince and the King. The Brethern wizards had found ways to breach the wall separating the worlds. They knew enough to use the underlings to drain power for the gifted.

  From what Darnel had read, anyone who had the ability to control the underlings would be rewarded with unlimited power. His Logorian blood held that power.

  But he’d have to be careful. He’d have to keep his real plans hidden within his hardening heart and not even tell Fajer his true desires.

  Fajer paced for several long minutes while he considered Darnel’s offer. Finally, he stopped, a smile slowly crawling across his marked fa
ce. “Well, I have absolutely nothing to lose. If we do manage to find another gifted one, and if we can call forth an under-earthling and it ends up killing me, at least I’ll die more befittingly.”

  Darnel had no problem allowing Fajer to take that risk.

  Chapter Four

  Kardia wondered just how large was the kingdom of Alburnium. She’d been following Jael Azazel for the past five days and the road only kept winding one way, then another. They’d not passed any towns or other inhabited areas.

  But their progress was slow, which she had to take the blame for. Not being used to walking for such long stretches, she tired easily. Jael never seemed to mind her extra breaks. He insisted that he was in no particular hurry to get anywhere. When too much distance grew between her and the cart he pulled, he’d park it to the side of the road and let her sit in the shade of the trees until her exhausted feet and legs stopped throbbing.

  The wooden box where he kept his goods was always locked and he never opened it when she was close by. He pulled it along behind him with leather straps that fit over his shoulders and handles he gripped in his large, calloused hands. Pots and cooking utensils hung from hooks along one side, and tools along the other.

  She’d wondered more than once what kind of goods the faun traded in, and where he did his trading. They never went anywhere near a town.

  “Listen up, Little Bit,” Jael said during one of their rest stops. “I’m looking at your nubby little hands and thinking they’ve healed up now. It’s time you started using them like a proper human.”

  Kardia bristled at his use of words to describe her hands, but then after a moment, she ended up laughing. Nubby did describe them adequately. He always punctuated his statements with a wink, and she always ended up grinning at his wink.

  Such a strange fellow. She liked him, but still felt the need to keep her guard. He was too secretive. Especially about what he kept inside the wooden cart.

  “And how am I supposed to do that?” Far as Kardia was concerned, her hands were pretty much dead to her. All she ever managed to do was drop or knock things over with them. They’d nearly lost a pot of stew when she’d tried lifting the cauldron by propping the handles over her wrists. The weight had been more than she’d anticipated and it slid right off her stump-hand.

  The worst part was she could no longer fix or heal things anymore. Her Sano gift, the one and only good thing going for her, was completely gone.

  Jael had waded into the stream they’d been following for the past couple of days. Once the water reached halfway up his goat legs, he bent over and peered into the clear waters while they spoke. “I know it hurts to move your stumpy thumb, but you still have a means to grasps objects. The pain will ease over time. The outside is mended, the insides will, as well.” His strong arm dipped into the water in a scooping motion. With a splash, a long, silver fish flew onto the shore. “Now get that before it flops back in.”

  Kardia dove on top of the fish and pinned it down with her arms. She hated the feel of them but did enjoy having the flaky meat at night, so she didn’t complain. As she moved to sit up so she could get her arms around the slick body, the faun coaxed, “Now listen to ol’ Jael. You can do this. Wrap your little hands around the body and lift it up.”

  Whenever she tried to use her half-thumb, pain shot up her arms. But he was right, it eased each day. With a nod, she did what he said, biting back the tears. She managed to clamp her hands around the wiggling body and stand. She took the fish over to the cart and dumped it into the bucket hanging along the bottom behind the two wheels.

  From the stream, Jael cheered, then caught a second one that he also threw onto the shore, calling out, “Get that one, too, Little Bit.”

  She felt foolish running after the flopping fish but also beamed with a sense of pride over having accomplished a task successfully. Kardia desperately wanted to be useful again. Having the faun fuss over and help her with menial jobs was depressing. She’d even began sleeping in her shoes so she’d not have to go around with untied laces.

  “That’ll fill our rumbling tummies nicely tonight, don’t you think?” He patted her on the back, his smile genuine. “See? You helped. Soon, you’ll be self-reliant again. That’s what we need to do. Yep, get you to where you’re of more value.”

  Kardia froze, wondering what he meant by that. Except, she had also wondered if she’d have any value even if she did manage to find the path to Aloblase. Would the King take one look at her damaged hands and laugh her out of his throne room?

  How about regular people? What kind of work could she do in this state?

  Jael’s statement made sense when she really thought about it.

  He shook the water from his fur and stomped toward the front of his cart. Slipping into the shoulder straps, he said, “Time to get moving. The day is waning.”

  “Jael, where are you heading, anyway? We’ve been following this road for a long time and I’ve not seen anything but trees and more trees.”

  “An’ you won’t see much else, Little Bit. I don’t venture near human establishments. We might’ve met inside the borders of your province, but I didn’t stay for long. Nope. We’re back in Melodies Forest. Soon, we’ll come upon a couple of clan coves. The centaurs are good to trade with. But first, there’s a wee village where a dwarf family dwells. I always stop in to see—”

  “Dwarfs!” Kardia exclaimed, both excited and nervous at the same time. “And centaurs. Are you serious? You’re not telling me one of your yarns, are you, Jael?”

  Her question brought a chuckle from the faun. “Such a naive Little Bit, aren’t you? I bet you never stepped one toe away from your hamlet, did you now?”

  She shook her head. “Too far to walk and we were too poor to have a reason to leave. We had nothing to trade with.”

  He continued to chuckle, his gaze growing appreciative as he rested his rough hand on her shoulder. “I like you, Little Bit. I love how everything is new and amazing to you. I’ve become travel weary and blind to such things. I’m glad I found you first.”

  He’d said that a few times and she’d often wondered what he meant. “Who else would have found me?” She dared to ask.

  His smile faltered. “Don’t even know the dangers you faced running off all on your lonesome. So naive. Such a babe.” He shook his head, dispersing a few twigs and leaves clustered in his tangled hair. “But don’t worry. I’ll teach you how to get along and be useful again. You’ll see. Just listen and do exactly what ol’ Jael says, and you’ll be fine.”

  He quickened his steps. The clomping of his hooves bounced off the surrounding vegetation. “We’ll reach the dwarfs by this evening. When we arrive, I insist you stay by the cart and don’t make a peep. If they do speak to you, do not speak back, understand?”

  Kardia nodded, even if she didn’t understand his reasoning. He did know an awful lot more about the wilds than she did. She had no choice but to trust him.

  As they walked, she kept trying to work her thumb, and bend her palm into what used to be a fist. Eventually, she grew used to the ache.

  Jael’s demands made no sense, despite how hard she tried to figure his reasoning. Finally, she had to ask. “Jael, why can I not answer the dwarfs if they speak to me first? I don’t wish to be rude.”

  “Because, we don’t need them to become interested in you, see? I have something to trade with them, and I don’t need the greedy bearded runts asking for more than Jael is willing to offer. They can drive hard bargains if they wish.”

  “Just what kind of goods do you trade, Jael?”

  He didn’t answer for a few moments, his brows puckering as his fists tightened on the handles. “Well, that’s my business, isn’t it? But so there’s no hard feelings ‘atween us, I’ll say this. I trade things the fair folks need. Special plants that are hard to find. I can find them well. Precious stones and other oddities that creatures find useful in their daily lives.”

  He'd said that before, but Kardia had a nagging f
eeling that he wasn’t being completely honest.

  The clomping of his hooves grew more rapid and Kardia began to fall behind. She stared at the locked cart, wondering what ‘goods’ creatures might find useful? She had seen him stopping every now and then to gather certain plants. At night, he often left her to watch the camp while he went out to “forage,” as he called it.

  She couldn’t help but wonder if she was truly accompanying him on his travels as a friend, or as part of his collection?

  “Keep up, Little Bit!” He called out when too much distance grew between her and his cart. “Don’t be lagging too far behind or you’ll be bait for the baddies lurking here in the woods.”

  She glanced around the emerald world surrounding her. Tall trees that grew close together, hardly allowed any light to filter in through their lofty boughs. Thick moss hung from the twisted branches and clung to the rough, black trunks. Shadows clustered all around. Sometimes she swore they moved, but when she looked again, it seemed like some kind of odd illusion.

  These were nothing like the woods she and Miltie foraged in.

  Kardia wondered what she’d gotten herself into. After all she’d been through, had she once again been too trusting? She desperately wanted to believe this world wasn’t as cruel as she was beginning to fear. Jael was kind and truly was trying to help her become more self-sufficient. Why all the doubts?

  The woods eventually started to thin by the time they reached a tightly packed group of buildings nestled beside an azure pond. Boats lined the shore. Smoke poured from the chimneys of the squat little homes built around the body of water.